lifestyle

HELLO HELLO. I’m typing this LIVE FROM FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS. I’m all moved in and awful proud of myself for packing pretty minimalistically (hi mom). Here’s a lil peak of what I was able to pull together. The key: keep it simple and you’ll be good to go!!

I thought I would share some tips on how in the heck I managed to get everything I needed for the next three months in just a few boxes!

leave the knick knacks behind

I looove a good knick knack as much as the next gal, but leave em behind to save space. This move, I kept things very simplistic and cut doown on my knick knacks. Bye bye stack of 60 magazines, momentos from freshmen year and all of my assorted little candles and lucite trays (ahhhh it was painful to leave those behind I love them). I brought one picture frame and one wall hanging along with a few pictures to decorate my bookcase and it only all took up a little space in my storage bin #success

pack only clothes you’ve worn in the past month-two

If you haven’t worn it in the past 4 months, then it probably shouldn’t move with you. Basics are your best friend because they’re basic you can mix and match them bunches of ways! Check the weather prior to your move so you don’t end up with parkas in 95 degree weather or vice versa.

buy necessities when you get there

It’s so easy to want to pack EVERYTHING you’re ever going to need for the move before you leave, but leave the necessities like kitchen supplies, any extra toiletries, and cleaning supplies for when ya arrive. Make a trip to Target once you move in to grab everything you missed/couldn’t fit (try not to spend 2 hrs in there like I always do lol).

If you’re planning a move, whether it’s across the country or just down the street I hope you’ll try and do it as minimalistically as possible. If you know me in real life, I hope you’re proud I was able to leave my knick knacks behind. But dang does it feel good to have a clean start here in Fayetteville with my internship (read more about that here)! I started journaling (which I would so recommend if you already don’t. As someone who always has a million and one things running through her mind it is such a relief to sit down at the end of the day and just unleash all of those thoughts!!), working out a bit and *trying* to save my money. This summer is off to a fab start and I hope it’ll continue!

shop my room

OOOkkkk so hi. I have been MIA. Life’s been crazy! We haven’t talked in over a month y’all.. I totally feel like I’m on a hiatus One Direction style (ehhmm boys when will you reunite I’m waiting??). I’m wrapping up my junior year here at LSU which I honestly cannot believe…. I’ll do a junior year recap soon for y’all like I always do since those are some of my favorites to write.

But I’m back with a lil update on where I’ve been — aka not inspired, lazy and honestly confused about my life’s direction. Yes, I am a drama queen (don’t have to tell me twice). School wise, things have been easy… almost too easy. I’m pretty much done with all my fashion classes and I’ll finish up my second minor and major in the fall of 2018. But LSU, ya ain’t getting rid of me that quick cause this girl is gonna ride things out as long as I possibly can! I’ll stay in school until May 2019 for fear of missing out on my last SPRING SEMESTER of college (don’t wanna talk about it even though it’s a year away). Here’s what I’ve been up to in some of my classes this semester! Whoo for being creative!

I went to Nashville at the end of March for my spring break and ooooomg if you’ve never been ya GOTTA GO. We ate and drank our way to the entire town and I said sayonara to my bank account for good (no really I have yet to reclaim my once stable-ish financial state). But regardless, it was dang good time! Eatin, drinkin, dancin and just having a good time with good friends was exactly what I needed. If you’re in the mood for some pics keep on scrollin because I’ve got tons.

After Nashville I sat down and tried to write a recap post, an OOTD, just something but I felt like I was in such a rut! I feel like I was just explaining to y’all a month of two ago about how uninspired I was but I’m back again on that same kick… Ughhhh maybe the summer will bring me some inspo #plzlord

I almost forgot to update y’all on my summer plans.. holy cow I am sooo excited! I’ve been following ShopRiffRaff since I was a junior or senior in high school and I’ve always been obsessed with them. Their branding is so on point and the girls that work there always seem to have SO MUCH FUN. I applied and was offered an internship there as an Operations Intern this summer in Fayetteville, AR. So yeah, I’m moving to AR next week for the next three months which I am really looking forward too but also scared shitless a lil bit too. I’m not gonna know anyone but it’s going to be such a cool experience to step out of my comfort zone (I’m lookin at you Louisiana)! I’ll share a lot more on my experience and move here once I get settled.

ALRIGHT THAT WAS A MOUTHFUL. That’s basically my life right now. It’s a bit chaotic but we are making moves people!! Happy May 1st~

Happy day late hump day! I, for one, know a midweek pick me up is exactly what I need to finish this week off strong. Spring break is approaching and I cannot wait. I totally started this week off on the wrong foot so now I am *trying* to spread positive vibes! So, I thought I would share with y’all a few of my favorite motivational quotes. Make them your phone background for a daily reminder to get stuff done!

Here’s a few things that keep me motivated:

To do lists (can’t live without them for real)

Fountain cokes (y’all laugh but they really get me in the zone)

A good deep dive on Tumblr or Pinterest looking at inspirational quotes

Cleaning up my workspace (bye bye clutter)

We are almost there y’all. Take that motivation and make something out of it. Do whatever ya gotta do to get through this week! We can do it. Keep it positive and you’ll make it.

Hiiiii I am giddy typing this right now y’all. It’s finally here! LGIP’s revamp. Let’s just say this was much needed. Last month, I was in a major rut and I knew something needed to be done. This rebrand seemed like the best move for me! It brought me back to the reason LGIP came about: to have a fun space for us gals to hang out and share trends, tips and our love for fashion. LGIP is back in action with a new look and feel!

rebrandin starts like this…

I started off with a central idea of having the new layout being “girl power” centered! That’s where the lips came into play. Is it totally weird to say I love lips? In prints and in artwork they just give me such strong and girly vibes. From the lips came the color scheme. Neutrals with a kick! The coral color is my favorite paired with all my go-to neutral shades (blush and pink). I added in the cheetahs which represent strength (go girls). Then came the new layout which is something more user-friendly and a bit more modern/functional. There’s now a super fab slider up top with some of my favorite posts featured up there.

The whole new vibe of LGIP is gal-centric. I want LGIP to be haven for gals who are for the gals! Let’s have this be a safe space to try out new trends, have fun while doing it and celebrate being women. So with being said, welcome to the new LGIP! SO so happy to have ya here for all the seasons of LGIP. Click around and stay for a while!

If you know me at all in real life, you know how gung-ho I am about music. I listen pretty much 24/7 — walking to class, in the shower, doing homework, just really whenever I get the chance! I thought I would share with y’all my January playlist! Music taste says a lot about a person. I for one, think it’s so interesting to see what everyone’s up to based on their current listens.

I’ll link my playlist below for y’all so you can check it out! While you’re at it, give me a follow on Spotify (I would loveeee that)! The link to listen is here. This month I was all about the mix of old late 1990s pop rock + new dance kinda of stuff (Troye Sivan, Charlie Puth). Of course my girl Tay landed on my list as well. Her reputation album is bomb.

I’ll be traveling this weekend to Dallas for an Alpha Phi conference so I am almost positive the jams will be on blast most of the weekend. I’ll be sure to share some pictures of my lovely conference attire (lol) over on my Insta stories! Wishing y’all a very happy Friday junior!

I have struggled with acne for years and when I got to college, it got progressively worse. The acne was mostly concentrated on in my cheeks, forehead and back. I turned to caking on makeup because my face was broken out, I could never wear the cute tops I wanted to because my back was broken out, and I just did not feel good about myself.

I had been seeing a dermatologist since I was in high school and when I tell you I’ve tried everything — I really have. Creams, antibiotics, face washes, gels literally all of it. But nothing really worked for me. I was finally so fed up which is why I decided to bite the bullet and go on Accutane. While I will say some of the side effects can seem scary, I was at the point where I would have done anything for clear skin.

I’ll jump into how my process worked for those of you wondering. There is a once a month blood test you have to get done (I am so scared of needles, but by month three I was fine. I just can’t look lol) as well as a dermatologist appointment to check in. In order to get your prescription filled each month, you have to go online and answer questions (from the iPledge program.. they were mostly about birth control and such). My prescription was from a remote pharmacy and was always overnighted to me so I was never without medicine.

Accutane does take a while to see results. Your skin may take awhile to adjust and react to the medicine, like mine did. I really did not see my skin starting to clear up until around September (month 5) and my back did not get clear until this month really (month 8). I have been taking this medicine since May and I’ve been on around 40 mg since month two. Everyone’s skin reacts differently so there is no for sure guarantee it’ll work in x amount of time or even work at all. I’ve known people who have done multiple rounds of Accutane, and some who have done 5 months and been done. Thankfully my 8 month run was enough to finally GET MY SKIN CLEAR.

The side effects came and went. In my first few months, I experienced back pain (I had always had a small lower back curve so this was nothing out the ordinary) that was worse then normal. Since I started during the summer, my lips were super dry too due to the heat. I pretty much had to change my entire skincare routine to cater to my now drier skin. Before the medicine, I had the freaking oiliest skin in the world. Like I could use two-three oil wipes midday on my face. It was seriously so gross. My hair.. oh, my hair! I think that was my favorite thing about being on this medicine. It essentially stops your skins oil production so my hair wouldn’t get oily for at least 4-5 days. Right now, after 8 months of Accutane, I could probably get away with washing it once a week. That’s been a plus for me.

Skincare routine

My skincare routine has drastically changed since I’ve started Accutane. I’ve simplified everything and just let the medicine do it’s job. Before I was doing four and five steps including cleasner, toner, acne cream and moisturizer. Now I am down to three at max — it’s seriously the best thing to happen to a lazy girl like me.

Philosophy purity made simple face wash // My absolute favorite face wash on and off Accutane. I’ve been using this one for around 6 years now and I have nothing but rave reviews to give! It’s really hydrating with it’s silky creamy texture and also great to use as makeup remover too if you’re in a hurrry. With my Clarisonic and this — my skin feels AMAZING.

First aid beauty ultra repair cream // I stumbled upon this at Ulta this past summer and I figured I would give it a try since it’s reviews were pretty good. I just bought my second tub and I am head over heels for it. I use it as my body moisteriser too and it’s a nice unscented lotion that actually keeps my skin hydrated.

Clairisonic Mia 1//My tried and true. I’ve had the same one since freshman year of high school (6 years) and it’s still goin so strong. I used to use it everyday, but now that my skin is drier and I’ve gotten a lot lazier (lol) I use it every once in a while to get a goood deep clean. The brush head I’ve found works best for me is the acne one! I would recommend, despite the hefty price tag! I can honestly say I feel the difference when I use it and when I don’t.

Mario Badescu rose water toner spray //This is something I use here and there, but especially when my skin is tired and needs a lil boost. I like it if I haven’t washed my face in the morning to put on before makeup. I’ve also seen some people use it as setting spray — I need to test that theory out!!

Garnier micellular water //One of my favorite beauty finds of 2017 hands down. One cotton bad and squirt of this and I am clean and makeup free. Makeup wipes are so expensive but this is cheaper and lasts way longer! I also find it’s bit more gentle on my skin and sensitive eye area. I could easily use this at night and be fine without moisturizer for the day too!

Blistex lip medex // I swear by this stuff. Ugh omg I could go on about how moisturizing this is and how it literally SAVES my peeling, cracked dry lips every time. It’s also got a cooling feeling too that I love. No need to spend the big bucks on lip balm when you can have it all for under $4 with this guy!

Makeup favorites (full coverage)

Some of my makeup favorites changed too! I ended up needing A LOT more coverage the first three months so I was experimenting with foundation and concealer like crazy!

Benefit boing concealer //I found that using this under my foundation helped. The first few months were hard with lots of breakouts on my cheeks, but this def has the coverage I needed! The color I have is light.

Two faced born this way foundation //This was the FULL coverage foundation I used when I first started Accuatne. It was awesome for pretty much making me look acne-less. I did have to use a bit of concealer with it since my acne/scaring was severe. The finish was pretty natural looking and I would spritz it with my Mario Badescu rose water toner to make it a bit more dewy looking. Once my skin got clearer, I didn’t find the need for it anymore.

Maybelline fit me foundation //This is was I use currently, as I am wrapping up Accutane. I think this foundation is a fantastic drugstore buy. I have used high end foundations for the past 5 or 6 years, and I honestly think this one revels a few. It runs about $9 and the coverage is pretty solid (more light to medium). I can layer it up if I need to though so that is a plus!

Has anyone else done Accutane or is interested in doing it? I would love to chat about it if y’all have any questions. I know it’s really not a medicine that is for everyone but for me it was exactly what I needed to get my skin clear. It might sound superficial but I really do feel so much more confident with my clear skin. It was something that had always made me feel self conscious. After years of dealing with acne (I seriously would not wish that upon anyone) I can say I am finally FREEE! Ugh, how liberating.

Hey hey! Happy Thursday y’all! I thought I would do a little roundup of a bunch of things I’ve bought recently because these are some of my favorite posts to write. Pretty much everything is under $100 because ya girl is #ballinonabudget. Go ahead and scroll down to check all the newness out.

buddha girl bangles

I am obsessed with these bangles. I wear them every time I dress up because I love the pop they bring to my outfits. They are weatherproof, TSA proof, and life proof! Did I mention they would be a good Christmas gift? The story behind them is so cool and I have been going crazy saying my serenity prayers on them when I get flustered.

mumu purple halter top

I snagged this top during the MuMu black Friday sale for around $35. Say whaattt? Yeah, I was thinking this would be perfect for game days (peep the lavender color) but also could be super cute during the holidays for a little party outfit!

cabby hat

It’s me trying to get on board with this new trend.. cabby hats? Can’t say I’ve ever been a hat gal before but I thought I should try it out. I found a bunch of budget friendly options at Forever (I’m talking under $20 y’all) so don’t be too scared to try this trend out! I love how it edges up a look.

joa sweater

Chunky. Pink. Perfect. Yep, that pretty much sums up this sweater. It is my new favorite thing ever and goes great with jeans and whatever else you want to pair it with! It’s under $80 and comes in a bunch of great neutral (and fun) options.

seychelles patent leather booties

I scored these babies off Revolve for $80. I was looking for months for a cute trendy pair of chunky heeled booties. Nude? Patent? Leather? Omg, how freaking fun! Since they hit right on my lower leg, I think they’re great paired with skirts, dresses, and would also be so good with a pair of cropped jeans (gonna rock em with these)!

marley lilly sweater

My favorite throw on and go sweater. I always grab this sweater for school because it looks great with yoga pants or active shorts. Every time I wear it, I get soo many complements on it! Plus, it’s on sale right now!

Thanks for reading! I’m taking my finals this week so by next Monday I will be a free woman (aka no school for a month.. wahoo)!

As a girl who NEVER gets away, this long weekend up north was just what I needed. My roommate is living in NYC this semester due to her internship in the city. I was absolutely dying to get up there to visit with her, sightsee (this was only my second trip to NYC), and eat our way through the city.

I ended up taking the earliest flight I could find on Friday morning so I could get there with time to spare in the afternoon. I arrived in NYC at around 1:30 and got on a bus that took me to city. I was getting off at Penn station (they told me it was the second stop) so that’s where I got off.. turns out it wasn’t Penn station lol. So I bobbed and weaved through the streets of NYC with my suitcase in tow, headed to Catherine’s apartment.

We made a beeline for Ellen’s Stardust Diner (aka the most touristy restaurant in all of NYC, besides the Times Square Olive Garden lol) where your waiters do karaoke while you eat. Honestly, amazing. I felt like I was watching a Glee episode the entire meal but I was loving it!!

After the Stardust diner, it was starting to get chilly but we trekked over to the MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) to check out the fashion exhibit they had going. Oh, and we got in for free since it was a Friday! Add that to ya bucket list.

Omigosh, y’all. If you love museums and fashion history you MUST go visit this exhibit at MoMA. It was seriously the coolest thing. As a fashion student, seeing things that I have been learning about in my classes and being able to name the designer or history of it was such a great feeling. Fashion lovers unite!

Catherine and I met up with my bestie from home Gav for a Halloween party. Obviously we had to be burger and fries. Literally the easiest, best costume (and comfy too). We had a little too much fun on Friday night! A slice of $1 pizza was absolutely needed after that night (Two Bros has my heart).

dress // sunglasses

Saturday morning started off on the subway headed to the Financial district. We got Joe’s bagels… omg the best bagel I have ever had and totally worth the 15 min wait. Then made our way to the Staten Island ferry (where we met up with Catherine’s friend from internship, Isa and her friend Sophia) so we could have a free shot at seeing the Statue of Liberty. The weather was perfect and honestly we were scared that the ferry would be freezing, but it was not bad at all!

After Staten Island was DUMBO, Brooklyn. To be exact, the HOME of Dan Humphrey from Gossip Girl. Yes, I was totally fan-girling. I can’t help myself y’all. It was the cutest little place. We ended up hanging out in DUMBO’s park for an hour. The view of the Brooklyn bridge and the city was so gorgeous.

A picnic in Central Park was up next. We racked up at Whole Foods on all the essentials: a baguette, brie, sandwiches, soups, cookies, and champagne. With the picnic blanket spread out, we feasted our hearts out (I was hella hungry).

Sunday was super gloomy and it was raining all day long. We visited our favorite founding father’s grave at Trinity Church, Carrie Bradshaw’s stoop in Greenwich Village and then went to SoHo for some retail therapy.

I racked up on some fabulous basics from my faves: Zara, H&M, Steve Madden, and Bloomingdales. My flight was at 5:55pm so I had to head back to the airport after SoHo. It got delayed so I arrived back in NOLA pretty late.

Thank you NYC for giving me a fabulous weekend and thank you to my hosts who made everything all the better (Gav and Catherine)!!

the girl in pearls

Hi y’all, I’m Madison! I’m a fashion student at LSU who has an extreme obsession with fountain Coke, neutrals and One Direction. Fashion is my favorite form of expression and I love experimenting with my style (on a college gals budget it can be tough). I’m so excited you’re here! Kick iff your shoes and stay awhile!